Giin!

Kiin!

Rey’s figure appeared and vanished, flickering like flashes of light.

Her high-speed movements were reminiscent of Shannon when she fought seriously.

Beyond the range of what my eyes could keep up with, Rey launched relentless attacks from every angle against the barrier Ivy had erected, protecting me in a full 360 degrees.

The clash between her sword and the barrier rang out sharply, creating an unending cacophony.

At first, the sounds came sporadically, but as time passed, the intervals shortened, growing faster and faster.

Gagagagagaga!

After just a few minutes, the continuous assaults sounded like heavy machinery churning up the ground, accompanied by deep, rumbling vibrations that echoed in my gut.

Trying to maintain a calm demeanor, I wiped away the absurd amount of sweat running down my back.

“Hah, maintaining your composure, are you? As expected of someone who dares to call themselves a hero!”

(No, I don’t call myself that! Help me, please! I admit my fault—just stop!)

Internally panicking and drenched in cold sweat, I crossed my arms, pretending to be unaffected.

Outside Ivy’s barrier, sword flashes whipped around like a violent storm.

If I stepped even a foot outside the barrier, I’d undoubtedly be chopped into neat little cubes of meat.

(Ivy! Do I seriously have to keep pretending this is all me?)

(Meeep, meeep!)

Just for now, Ivy murmured quietly.

Apparently, Ivy intended to let me take center stage while she stayed in the background.

Technically, I could use some of Ivy’s powers, though not as masterfully as she could. My abilities were limited to barriers, a few offensive spells, and some basic healing magic.

The last time I’d used them in real combat was during the attack of the Black Legion. That was my first—and only—real fight. I barely managed to hold my ground back then, so honestly, I don’t even remember much about it.

And now, against someone as overwhelmingly strong as Rey, I had to share Ivy’s power in an impromptu fight? Could I really do it?

No, this isn’t the time to doubt myself.

I have to do it.

This must be a trial for me to overcome if I want to stay by Ivy’s side.

All right. Let’s do this!

“Ivy!”

“Meeep!”

Ivy dispelled the barrier.

The moment the barrier vanished, Rey’s sword came swinging directly at me.

Raising my right hand, I faced my palm toward her.

Then I conjured a barrier in front of me. This one was different—it was a counter-barrier designed to reflect the force of any impact back at the attacker.

“Gah!?”

Rey took the full brunt of her own attack, stumbling for the first time during this entire fight.

I didn’t have the reflexes to properly track her movements.

That meant this was my one and only chance!

“Take this!”

I aimed at Rey’s exposed side and cast a spell.

I chose the simplest offensive magic: Light Arrow. A basic spell that summoned an arrow of light and launched it forward.

However, I poured Ivy’s immense magical energy into it, boosting its power and speed.

Would a single shot be enough to decide the fight? Probably not.

So, I added a twist.

I visualized the battle with the Black Legion, when Ivy had unleashed a torrent of Light Arrows.

That time, she had launched countless arrows at multiple enemies. I focused on replicating that, but targeting just one opponent—Rey.

One Light Arrow followed by another, and another, forming a continuous stream like a beam of light.

“Take this!”

With that, I fired eight Light Arrows simultaneously.

And then, something unexpected happened.

The trailing arrows collided with the ones ahead, propelling them forward.

Each collision added speed to the arrows until—

Pachoo!

The Light Arrows broke the sound barrier.

“…Guh!”

Rey took the hit and collapsed to the ground.

The aftermath left me panting, drained from casting the spell, Ivy immediately rushing to heal Rey, and Sanshita growling softly from a distance.

Thus, the battle came to an end.